Woodard tends to daughter in hospital

Updated 6:17 pm, Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Lamar University coach Ray Woodard and his grandson, Trey, make an entrance into Provost Umphrey Stadium on Saturday, September 8, 2012.
Photo taken:
Randy Edwards/The Enterprise

Lamar University coach Ray Woodard and his grandson, Trey, make an entrance into Provost Umphrey Stadium on Saturday, September 8, 2012.
Photo taken:
Randy Edwards/The Enterprise

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Hawaii head coach Norm Chow, left, shakes hands with Lamar head coach Ray Woodard at the end of the NCAA game between the Lamar and Hawaii, Sept. 15, 2012 in Honolulu. Hawaii defeated Lamar 54-2. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) less

Hawaii head coach Norm Chow, left, shakes hands with Lamar head coach Ray Woodard at the end of the NCAA game between the Lamar and Hawaii, Sept. 15, 2012 in Honolulu. Hawaii defeated Lamar 54-2. (AP ... more

With the lightning far enough away, the Cardinals, and their head coach Ray Woodard, center, take to the field. The Lamar University football team opened their practice Monday night, August 6, 2012 after the announcement that lightning was out of the area, for the 2012 season. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

With the lightning far enough away, the Cardinals, and their head coach Ray Woodard, center, take to the field. The Lamar University football team opened their practice Monday night, August 6, 2012 after the ... more

Photo: Paul Chinn

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Lamar coach, Ray Woodard times a player as he runs trials during the Lamar Football Junior Senior camp at Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont, Saturday, July 21, 2012. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise less

Lamar coach, Ray Woodard times a player as he runs trials during the Lamar Football Junior Senior camp at Provost Umphrey Stadium at Lamar University in Beaumont, Saturday, July 21, 2012. Tammy McKinley/The ... more

Photo: TAMMY MCKINLEY

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Lamar's football coach Ray Woodard.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Lamar's football coach Ray Woodard.
Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Photo: Guiseppe Barranco

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Lamar University coach Ray Woodard, right, has words with the referee at the game against Prairie View A&M at the Provost Umphrey Stadium on Saturday, September 8, 2012.
Photo taken:
Randy Edwards/The Enterprise less

Lamar University coach Ray Woodard, right, has words with the referee at the game against Prairie View A&M at the Provost Umphrey Stadium on Saturday, September 8, 2012.
Photo taken:
Randy Edwards/The ... more

Lamar Cardinals Offensive Line coach, Dennis McKnight and Head Coach, Ray Woodard confer on the field during the first day of spring practice at Lamar University in Beaumont, Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Tammy McKinley/The Enterprise less

Lamar Cardinals Offensive Line coach, Dennis McKnight and Head Coach, Ray Woodard confer on the field during the first day of spring practice at Lamar University in Beaumont, Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Tammy ... more

Photo: TAMMY MCKINLEY

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With the lightning far enough away, the Cardinals, and their head coach Ray Woodard, center, take to the field. The Lamar University football team opened their practice Monday night, August 6, 2012 after the announcement that lightning was out of the area for the 2012 season. LU will play their season opener on September 1, at Louisiana-Lafayette. Dave Ryan/The Enterprise less

With the lightning far enough away, the Cardinals, and their head coach Ray Woodard, center, take to the field. The Lamar University football team opened their practice Monday night, August 6, 2012 after the ... more

Photo: Dave Ryan

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Woodard tends to daughter in hospital

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Lamar football coach Ray Woodard was not at practice Tuesday because he was at a hospital in Longview to be with his daughter, Jessica, who he said has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

"I've been better," Woodard said during a weekly Southland Conference coaches teleconference Tuesday. "I'm at a hospital in Longview. My daughter has been diagnosed with MS."

Lamar assistant coach Craig McGallion said Woodard planned to return to Beaumont either late Tuesday or Wednesday.

"He was going to try to get back (Tuesday) afternoon," McGallion said before practice Tuesday. "He may not roll in until a little later. I feel certain he'll be back in the morning."

Woodard postponed his weekly Monday press conference to Thursday, and Lamar assistants McGallion and Bill Bradley filled in for Woodard during his weekly radio show Monday night. Woodard called into the show for a segment.

"It's been business as usual," McGallion said. "We have our staff meetings in the morning. Once we get that out of the way, coach kind of steps back and lets us go to work. That's what we've been doing the last two days."

Lamar (3-7, 0-5 Southland) plays Saturday at home against Nicholls State (1-7, 0-5).

"They're kind of like us," Woodard said. "They're look at this, and one of us is going to come out with our first conference win this weekend. I know they're excited to have that opportunity and we are too."